Employee retires after one job – 47 years later

Linda Owen of Hebron takes a break from the festivities on her last day at PNC Bank after a 47-year career. Beacon photo by Scott Rawdon. By Scott Rawdon

BUCKEYE LAKE – Buckeye Lake PNC Bank Head Teller Linda Owen, who retired Wednesday after 47 years in local banking, is a creature of habit. “I don’t like change,” she said.

Granted, being a retiree will be something new, but Owen has enjoyed a wonderfully stable career and family life so far. She said that right after high school graduation, her father told her she had a job at the First National Bank of Newark – Owen never applied for the job, she just had it.

It obviously worked out well for her, as it’s been the only job she ever had. Eventually, the First National Bank merged with Banc Ohio, and then it became National City, and eventually PNC. Owen’s been with it every step of the way. She worked in Lancaster and Heath branches, but fell in Love with Buckeye Lake’s branch roughly 34 years ago. “We always had a wonderful staff and (customers),” she said. “I’ve seen three generations of some people.”

Owen really has no specific plans for retirement other than spending more time with her husband, Dick, who is also retired, and maybe work on her golf swing. Looking back on her life as a bank teller, Owen definitely has no regrets. “Married 40 years, same job, same house,” she said. “I just don’t like change.”